Bank-by-mail envelope



Sept. 24, 1963 BEVERLY smrs BANK 0f BEVERLY HILLS HILLSl CRLIF'RNA E. P. JOHNSON ETAL United States Patent O il E.

3,104,800 BANK-BY-MAIL ENVELPE Edward l. .lohnsom St. Paul, Minn., and Charles H. Reeder, St. Louis County, Mo., assigner-s to St. Regis Paper Company, New York, NSY., a corporation of New York Filed Jan. 28, 196), Ser. No. 5,198 3 Claims. (5l. 229-70) Various bank-by-mail envelopes have been devised in the past. The known constructions however have been devised primarily to simplify the mailing and filling in of the banking information, and none so far as known has been constructed not only to provide an easy to use and convenient bank-by-mail envelope from the handling and mailing standpoints but one which also provides means by which the information thereon can be processed automatically using automatic accounting machines such as electronic sorting and reading machines.

Applicants construction overcomes these and other shortcomings of known bank-by-mail envelopes by providing a bank-by-mail envelope of one piece construction which is very easy to use and which is designed to be accurately printed upon so that it can be handled and processed in automatic accounting machines, and meets the close tolerances of the American Banking Association and bank machine manufacturers.

lt is therefore an object of the invention to provide a bank-by-mail envelope of one piece construction.

Another object is to provide a bank-by-mail envelope which can be processed in automatic electronic sorting and reading accounting machines.

Another object is to provide a one piece bank-by-mail envelope which can be printed using existing printing equipment with a much higher degree of placement and alignment accuracy.

Another object is to provide a banking envelope which is constructed to satisfy the postal requirements for registered and for regular mail.

Another object is to provide a bank-by-mail envelope that is relatively inexpensive to make and yet is easy to use, light in weight and compact.

Still another object is to provide a banking envelope that is printed and personalized for a particular depositor in one printing operation.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after considering the following speciiication in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the present bank-by-mail envelope;

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the envelope of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a view of the blank from which the present envelope is made, the blank being shown in unfolded condition;

FG. 4 is a perspective view of the envelope with the deposit and return receipt slips detached and partially inserted in the envelope portion for mailing; and

FG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary front view of the upper right side portion of the envelope.

Referring to the drawing by reference numbers, the number refers to a bank-by-mail envelope constructed according to the present invention. The envelope 10 has an envelope portion 12, a deposit receipt portion 14, and a deposit slip portion 16.

The envelope portion 12 has a front panel 18, a rear panel 20, and two side flaps 22 which are formed on the ends of the front panel 18 and extend around the ends of the rear panel 20 and are attached to the rear surface thereof by gummed areas 22a. Preferably the side flaps 22 are attached to the rear surface of the rear 3',J4, Patented Sept. 24, 1963 ICC panel 20 (FIG. 2) so that the envelopes satisfy the postal requirements for registered mail, however, it is also contemplated to attach the side flaps 22 to the front surface of the rear panel 20 (FEG. 5) for rst class mailing. The top edge of the envelope is closed by a fold formed between the front and rear panels, and the lower edge of the front panel-1S has a gurnined closure ap 24 attached thereto along a fold line.

The deposit receipt portion 14 is attached to the lower edge of the rear panel 20 along a line of perforations 26 and is detached by thedepositor when mailing the envelope to the bank. Similarly the deposit slip 16 is attached to the deposit receipt 14 along another line of perforations 23 so that the two portions 14 and 16 can be separated. Y

It will be noted that when an envelope blank 30 for the envelope 10 is formed (FIG. 3), the rear panel 20 is constructed slightly shorter than the front panel 1S by shortening the right end edge thereof at 32. This is done so that when the right side ap 22 is folded around the adjacent end of the rear panel 20 the edge formed by the folding of the flap 22 is in alignment with the adjacent side edges of the deposit receipt 14 and deposit slip 16. lt is important to the invention that this alignment be maintained as will be shown. As long as one of the side edges has accurate alignment it is not essential that the opposite side edge be in alignment because only one aligned side edge is necessary to guide the envelope into a printing press to obtain the desired printing accuracy to meet the requirements for processing on automatic accounting machines.

In FIG. l the banking envelope 10 is shown in printed form. The depositors return address is printed in the upper left hand :corner of the envelope portion t12 and the name and address of the bank `are printed in the place for the mailing address. Directions for using the envelope are printed in a boxed in area on the mail deposit receipt portion 14 and the depositors name and address and the name of the bank are also printed on this portion. The deposit slip portion 16 also has the name and address of the depositor and the banks name as well as a date line, and a form for listing deposit items printed thereon. The deposit slip 16 also has the depositors account number 34 printed thereon. The account number 34 is printed in a coded form as `shown and is preferably printed with magnetic ink so that it can be Isensed by automatic sensing means. Various code forms and sensing devices are known and commercially available and they form no part of the present invention. It is also contemplated to print the entire envelope using a fmagnetic ink to further simplify the printing thereof.

The bottom edge 36 of the deposit `slip 16 must also be straight and accurately formed and must be at exactly a right angle with the right -side edge identified generally by number 38 (FIGS. 1 and 2). The accuracy of the edges l36 and 38 are important to the accuracy of the print-ing of the envelope 10` and particularly to the printing of the account number 34 in proper placement and alignment.

`it will be noted that the side flaps 22 -do not extend to the creased edge of the envelope portion 12. This is done intentionally to provide Ismall openings or `escape holes 40 which allow air trapped in the envelope as the envelope is moved into a printing press to escape. This has been found to be desirable because the bottom edge 36 feeds into the press first and the open vside edge of the envelope portion V12, adjacent to the closure ap 24, may have a tendency to catch air and jam the printing press. lIn some cases this .may eect the printing accuracy especially if the air is not able to escape.

It has also been found desirable to shorten the forms portions 14 and 16 along the end edges 42 so that they 3,1o4,soo

w-ill readily tit into the envelope Without buckling or bending. This is desirable to prevent damage to the deposit slip which is later processed in accounting machines.

It is also contemplated to apply a carbonlike material to the back side of the deposi-t slip form 16 in the area where the slip is `written on by the depositor. This is done so that when the deposit slip is folded against the mail receipt form "14 and lled in a carbon copy of the entries is made. The carbon copy will later become the depositors personal record of the transaction.

Thus there has been shown and described a one piece banking envelope which fulfil-ls all of the objects and advantages sought therefor, said envelope comprising an envelope portion, a mail receipt portion `and a deposit slip portion, all of said portions having one side edge in alginment with each other for guiding the envelope into a printin-g press, another yside edge on one of said portions being at :right angles to said aligned side edges for further accurate alignment of envelope in the printing press, and

means printed on one of said portions during printing thereof that is capable of being sensed in an automa-tic accounting process. The envelope also includes closure means associated with the envelope portion including side aps and a closure nap. an opening in the envelope portion opposite the open side edge for the escape of air therefrom, and means for separating the various portions of the envelope from each other.

Many changes, alterations and modifications of the present bank-ing envelope will become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the specification and drawing. All such changes, alterations and modifications `which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only `by the claims `which follow.

We claim:

1. A one-piece bank-by-mail envelope comprising an envelope portion havin-g front and rear panels -foldable against each other, one of `said panels being longer than the other, side edge closing flaps on the ends of the longer panel foldable around Iand attachable tothe associated ends of the shorter panel to close the ends of the envelope portion, a 1closure iiap for the envelope portion connected to a free side edge of one of said panels, a deposit slip portion attached to a corresponding free side edge of the other envelope panel, one side edge of :said envelope portion and the corresponding side edge of said deposit slip portion being in accurate alignment, another side edge of said deposit slip portion being 'formed at right angles to said `aligned side edges, said aforementioned side edges ers names and addresses, a back panel attached to th front panel along three side edges thereof and open along a fourth side edge, a closure flap attached to the front panel along said fourth side edge, a mailing piece for said envelope attached to the rear panel 4along the fourth side edge thereof, said mailing piece having one side edge in accurate alignment with one of the side edges ofthe envelope portion and another side edge at a right angle to said aligned side edges, a line of perforations extending between the rear panel and said mailing piece for separating one from the other, an opening formed in said envelope portion opposite from said fourth side edges, and printed matter on said envelope and said mailing piece, said Vprinted matter being printed after theV construction of the combination envelope and mailing piece using lthe aligned side edges and the side edge at right angles thereto for accurately registering and guiding said envelope and mailing piece during printing, said printed matter including an account identifying symbol printed in n magnetizable ink on the mailing piece.

' 3. A combination bank-by-mail envelope and mailing piece formed of one piece of paper comprising an envelope portion and a detachable mailing piece, said envelope portion inclu-ding front and rear Ypanels foldable against one another along one side edge, ap members attached to opposite end edges of one of said panels and also attached to the adjacent ends of the other of Said panels to close the ends of .the envelope portion, the panel of the envelope portion having the end flap members yattached thereto being longer than the other panel Y of said envelope portion, a closure flap attached toa fourth side edge of one of said panels, said mailingv piece being attached along the fourth side edge of the other f of said panels, said mailing piece having one sidetedge ,Y

aligned with a correspondingend edge of the envelope portion -and said mailing piece including a symbol printed in magnetic ink, said printed matter being printed on the f Y envelope portion and mailing piece simultaneously after the combination envelope and mailing piece are completely constructed as aforesaid using the guide edge and l the edge at right angles thereto to accurately align and register the envelope in a printing device. I

References Cited in the file of this patent v UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,040,004 Patton Oct. 1, 1912 v 1,591,231 Otis July 6, 1926 1,941,412 Nichols Dec. 26, 1933 1,944,794 Klinger Jan. 23, 1934 2,129,192 Berkowitz Sept. 6, 1938 2,166,439 JohnsonY July 18, 1939 2,508,953 Knutsen May 23, 1950 2,835,434 Watson May 20, 1958 2,835,512 Whitman May 20, 1958 2,840,295 From June 24, 1958 

1. A ONE-PIECE BANK-BY-MAIL ENVELOPE COMPRISING AN ENVELOPE PORTION HAVING FRONT AND REAR PANELS FOLDABLE AGAINST EACH OTHER, ONE OF SAID PANELS BEING LONGER THAN THE OTHER, SIDE EDGE CLOSING FLAPS ON THE ENDS OF THE LONGER PANEL FOLDABLE AROUND AND ATTACHABLE TO THE ASSOCIATED ENDS OF THE SHORTER PANEL TO CLOSE THE ENDS OF THE ENVELOPE PORTION, A CLOSURE FLAP FOR THE ENVELOPE PORTION CONNECTED TO A FREE SIDE EDGE OF ONE OF SAID PANELS, A DEPOSIT SLIP PORTION ATTACHED TO A CORRESPONDING FREE SIDE EDGE OF THE OTHER ENVELOPE PANEL, ONE SIDE EDGE OF SAID ENVELOPE PORTION AND THE CORRESPONDING SIDE EDGE OF SAID DEPOSIT SLIP PORTION BEING IN ACCURATE ALIGNMENT, ANOTHER SIDE EDGE OF SAID DEPOSIT SLIP PORTION BEING FORMED AT RIGHT ANGLES TO SAID ALIGNED SIDE EDGES, SAID AFOREMENTIONED SIDE EDGES PROVIDING MEANS FOR ACCURATELY GUIDING, ALIGNING AND REGISTERING SAID BANK-BY-MAIL ENVELOPE INCLUDING THE ENVELOPE PORTION AND THE DEPOSIT SLIP PORTION DURING MACHINE OPERATIONS THEREON, AND MATTER PRINTED ON SAID ENVELOPE PORTION AND SAID DEPOSIT SLIP PORTION INCLUDING A SYMBOL CAPABLE OF BEING SENSED IN AUTOMATIC SENSING EQUIPMENT. 